Robert Lewandowski Sets Goals Target to Secure Barcelona Contract Extension Despite Receiving ‘Very Good’ Transfer Offer from MLS Outfit Chicago Fire

Robert Lewandowski Sets Personal Goals Target as Barcelona Contract Extension Hangs in Balance Amid Chicago Fire Interest

There comes a point in every great striker’s career when the questions grow louder than the goals. For Robert Lewandowski, that moment is hovering just over the horizon.

At 37, with his current Barcelona deal ticking toward its June 30 expiration date, Lewandowski finds himself balancing legacy, loyalty and one final lucrative opportunity abroad. A “very good” offer from MLS side Chicago Fire is on the table. Interest from Saudi Arabia lingers in the background. And yet, the Polish marksman’s heart appears to remain in Catalunya.

The twist? He believes he can shoot his way into a new contract.

Free Agency Looms for Barcelona’s No. 9

As it stands, Lewandowski is heading toward free agency. His contract at FC Barcelona expires at the end of the season, meaning he could walk away without a transfer fee in a summer that also features a World Cup finals.

For a player of his pedigree, that is significant leverage.

Barcelona’s financial situation remains delicate. Every contract renewal is scrutinised. Every salary commitment weighed carefully. The club cannot afford sentimentality, even for a striker who has delivered 114 goals in 178 appearances since arriving in 2022.

Yet football is rarely that cold when icons are involved.

Lewandowski joined from FC Bayern Munich after a glittering spell in Germany that included Champions League glory and relentless domestic dominance. Before that, he rose to prominence at Borussia Dortmund, where his four-goal demolition of Real Madrid announced him as Europe’s most clinical predator.

Barcelona knew exactly what they were buying: reliability, professionalism, goals.

And for a time, he delivered at vintage levels.

Robert Lewandowski Barcelona 2025-26

The Chicago Fire Offer and Saudi Pro League Interest

According to reports in Spain, Chicago Fire FC are intensifying efforts to lure Lewandowski to Major League Soccer. The proposal is described as financially “very good” — the sort of late-career package that secures comfort well beyond retirement.

Meanwhile, clubs in the Saudi Pro League are said to be monitoring developments, hopeful that multimillion-dollar contracts might sway both player and family.

But here’s where the story becomes more human than transactional.

Lewandowski does not seem eager to uproot.

His wife has established business ventures in Barcelona. The family have settled into a new home. His children are reportedly happy. At this stage of his career, lifestyle weighs as heavily as salary.

For Lewandowski, leaving on a free transfer this summer would not feel like a triumphant final chapter. It would feel unfinished.

A Striker’s Frustration Under Hansi Flick

There have been visible signs of tension this season.

In a recent outing against Levante, Lewandowski played 66 minutes, touched the ball just 18 times and managed two shots before being withdrawn. Cameras caught him muttering in Polish as he left the pitch — a clear indication of frustration.

Under head coach Hansi Flick, Barcelona’s tactical structure has evolved. Greater emphasis is placed on fluid pressing, rotation across the frontline, and distributing attacking responsibility.

At times, alternative central options have been favoured. Lewandowski has not always been guaranteed 90 minutes. For a striker who has built a career on rhythm and repetition, that uncertainty can be unsettling.

Polish journalist Mateusz Borek, a figure known to have access to the striker’s inner circle, recently claimed that Lewandowski feels “confused” by the current situation. He reportedly wants clarity — either a genuine extension offer or a definitive signal that his time is up.

Lingering in limbo is rarely comfortable for elite athletes.

The 10-Goal Target: Shooting for Security

Here is where the competitive fire still burns brightest.

Lewandowski is said to believe that if he scores 10 more goals before the end of the campaign, Barcelona may reconsider and table a contract extension.

It is a classic striker’s solution: let the numbers speak.

Last season, he found the net 42 times across all competitions — a staggering total for a player already in his mid-thirties. This term has been quieter by his standards, with 13 goals so far. Productive, yes. Dominant, perhaps not.

But context matters.

There are 13 Liga fixtures remaining in Barcelona’s title defence. The club has also progressed to the Champions League round of 16. Opportunities remain. Stages remain. Spotlights remain.

Ten goals in that span is demanding — but hardly impossible for a player of his pedigree.

If anything, setting such a target reflects his mindset. He does not want a renewal handed to him as a courtesy. He wants to earn it.

Flick’s Measured Response

Flick, for his part, has attempted to calm the speculation.

“We’ve talked,” he said recently. “We haven’t reached the end of the season yet. He needs to stay focused and enjoy it. I know he wants more playing time, but he’s doing things well. Now is not the time to talk about it.”

It was a diplomatic answer, neither confirming nor denying long-term plans.

Behind the scenes, Barcelona’s hierarchy must consider succession planning. Investing in youth, lowering wage bills, and preparing for the future are unavoidable realities.

Yet replacing Lewandowski’s instinct inside the penalty area is easier said than done.

Goals are the rarest currency in football. Consistent goals, rarer still.

Legacy, Longevity and the Ronaldo Comparison

There is also the broader question of longevity.

Lewandowski has long been admired for his physical conditioning and professionalism. Few players have maintained such a high standard deep into their thirties. Comparisons are increasingly drawn with Cristiano Ronaldo, another icon determined to extend his career beyond conventional limits.

Playing into, or even beyond, 40 is no longer unthinkable for elite forwards. Advances in sports science, recovery techniques and dietary precision have changed the timeline.

Lewandowski, meticulous in his preparation, fits that mould.

The question is not whether he can continue playing at a high level. It is where.

Club Brugge KV v FC Barcelona – UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4

Barcelona’s Delicate Decision

For Barcelona, the calculus is complex.

Reward a proven scorer who still believes he can deliver — or pivot decisively toward the future?

Financial pressures cannot be ignored. Nor can dressing-room dynamics. Extending Lewandowski’s deal sends one message about ambition and stability. Allowing him to leave sends another about transition and renewal.

There is no easy answer.

But there is something compelling about a striker publicly tying his fate to a goal tally. It feels old-school. Earn it. Prove it. Force the club’s hand.

The Final Stretch

With more than enough fixtures remaining, Lewandowski’s challenge is clear: ten goals to tilt the conversation.

If he reaches that mark, the narrative shifts. Chicago Fire’s offer becomes less tempting. Saudi interest becomes background noise. Barcelona are confronted with the evidence in black and white.

If he falls short, the summer may bring a farewell tour rather than a renewal announcement.

Either way, the coming weeks will define the final act of his Catalan chapter.

For now, Robert Lewandowski is not thinking about MLS floodlights or Middle Eastern riches. He is thinking about the next chance inside the box. The next header. The next penalty. The next finish guided into the corner.

Because sometimes, for a striker of his calibre, the simplest solution remains the most powerful.

Score.

And let the rest take care of itself.